National all-rounder, Akshaya Persaud, Sunday scored a scorching century as Cornelia Ida Cricket Club held its first practice match ahead of the Speaker’s T20 Club Championship to be held next month.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the 23-year-old captain saw his team to an 88-run win over West Demerara Police at Tuschen Ground, West Demerara.
CI posted a healthy 253 for seven from their 20-over allotment before restricting West Demerara Police to 165 for seven at the end of their quota. Persaud, who turned out for finalists, Guyana Jaguars, in the Regional Super50 earlier this year, was explosive from the onset, hitting Atesh Persaud for four fours and one six in the second over as he raced to his half century in just 21 balls.
The left-hander then reached triple figures from 47 balls and carried on to make 128 from 57 balls.
His innings was decorated with 10 sixes and nine fours before he was bowled by Jason Anderson.
Persaud was vital in forging partnerships after CI lost two wickets in the first over. He added 73 for the fourth wicket with Vaikesh Dhaniram who made a 16-ball 37, laced with five sixes and one four. He also added a third-wicket partnership of 63 with Arshad Azim who made 13 from 14 balls.
Kemraj Ramsundar chipped in with an unbeaten 23 from 11 balls while Dhaniram Azamudeen made 16 to see CI past 250.
Deron Archer was the principal bowler with 3-24 and Anderson supported with 2-42. In the chase, Police lost Anderson in the second over for seven but his younger brother and West Indies under-19 product, Kevlon, top scored with 40 from 20 balls, highlighted by three sixes and two fours.
The right hander shared a 58-run second-wicket stand with Adrian Dill who struck three sixes and three fours on his way to an 11-ball 33. Atesh Persaud made 16 but no other batsman managed anything substantial.
Muhammad Wazarali returned 2-32.
The Guyana Cricket Board/Everest Cricket Club-organised, Speaker’s T20 club tournament will run from April 3 to May 5 with 20 of the best clubs in Guyana battling for a million-dollar first prize while second place carts off with $500,000. The Most Valuable Player will also walk away with one million dollars.
